Author Ellen Osborn (great-granddaughter of John Calhoun “Cock-eye” Johnson) will share her book, A Lovely & Comfortable Heritage Lost, giving us a unique history of El Dorado County, beginning with the early days of the gold rush and the first conflicts with the Native American tribes of the region. Her book also traces the evolution of California’s Highway 50 and the Lincoln Highway from its beginning as a Native American trade trail, which became a popular Gold Rush route, and explains why it has come to be called one of the most storied and romantic roads in American history. Most importantly, Osborn shares the story of her great-grandfather and the world he lived in as emigrants poured into California, seeking promises of riches and following their own dreams of a new life.

We will meet as a group at the westernmost main parking lot at the Boomtown Casino, off I-80 Exit 4. Park and meet at the west end of the lot.

Mike Mooney and Chad Hicks have mapped the tour, with a few stops along the way (including pit stops). Plan on taking around 4 hours for this exciting trip.

Our final destination will include lunch in Truckee at the Village Pizzeria, which serves a wide variety of entrees. If you have facts, stories or history related to the tour, come prepared to share, but please keep it brief, as we have a lot of territory to cover.

All-wheel-drive (AWD) vehicles are encouraged, as is carpooling. Please RSVP for the tour and if you would like to carpool with someone by emailing Cindy Ainsworth: